The Unforgiving Sea

Late Thursday afternoon as the Fishermen's Memorial looked out upon the ocean a battle raged between men and the sea. The F/V Orin C. was 12 miles off Thacher Island with her 3 man crew taking on water in 10 foot seas. Phil Powell in his F/V Foxy Lady answered the distress call and raced to their position. He was able to get them in tow but after several hours the weather and the seas got worse. The Coast Guard 47 footer arrived and managed to pass over a pump and took over the tow. Loose debris in the bilge from all the pounding clogged the pumps and could stop the flooding and the F/V Orin C. sank. Two crewmen managed to be saved but sadly after heroic efforts by the Coast Guard and Phil Powell and his crew of the F/V Foxy Lady, 47 year old Captain David Sutherland succumbed and died. 

A fund has been set up to help Dave's children

Also Per the Gloucester Daily Times:

The Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association, according to GFWA President Angela Sanfilippo, will establish a memorial fund to assist Sutherland’s three children and grandchild — Lea, 16; Scott, 13; and his adult daughter Larissa and her infant son Franklin, who is less than a year old — as well as Palmer and Lane, who lost most of their possessions when the Orin C sank.

Financial contributions to the Sutherland Children’s Fund can be made at the TD Bank branch at 2 Harbor Loop in Gloucester beginning sometime Monday

Also, age-appropriate Christmas gifts for the children and clothing for them and the surviving crew members may be dropped off at the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association Office at 2 Blackburn Center in Gloucester.

 F/V Orin C. passes Ten Pound Island.

 Entering Harbor Cove.

 Through the door at Ocean Crest.

 Waiting to offload.

 F/V Foxy Lady in a coat of ice.

 Captain Phil Powell of the F/V Foxy Lady.

 Coast Guard 47' Motor Lifeboat